Rail-joint.



Y A. KRAGER.

' RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION man Nov. 6. I916.

Patentd July 17, 1917.

ALEXANDER :KRA

To all whom it ma z concern Be it known thatI, ALEXANDER KRAGER, a citizen of the United statesrresiding at Tuckerton, in the county of Ocean and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in BaiLJoints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail joints, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly-simple and effective device of this characterwhereby the meeting ends of two rails may' be securely fastened together in proper alinement without theuse of bolts and nuts. r A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thislcha'racten-the parts of which are so arranged and constructed that they will interlock and *be readily drawn into place and held securely in position by suitable locking'pins. l

A still further object offtheinvention is to provide a chair plate on which the meeting ends of two rails are' adaptedto rest, said chair plate having-means coacting with said plates whereby the two side plates will interlock with-the chair plate when the former are in position' with relation'to the rails, said interlocked parts being so'constructed as to permit of a certain amount of resiliency or verticalm'ovement of the rails, and also permit the free expansion and contraction of said rails.

With these ends in view,this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of sections of two rails, showing my improved rail joint applied thereto.

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the chair plate removed from the rails.

Fig. 3, is a similar view of one of the side plates; and

Fig, 4, is a side elevation of one of the locking pins.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied 2 represents the meeting ends of two rails which are adapted to rest upon the t IED. STAT. S PATENT position or project ment therewith and the outer ends of these outer ends semi-circular eyes 8 cr mes. 1

GER, or 'IUCKERTON, New JERSEY. 1 i

RAIL-JOIITT.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented 1'7, 1917. Application November 6, 1916. l i i 5 slit transverselyv from thetwo opposite side edges inwardly, the desired distance, forming a number of pro ections, the alternate ones of which areturned up to produce upwardly projecting lugs 6, the upper ends of which are curved outwardly to form arcuate flanges 7, thereby providing semicircular eyes 8 for the reception of the locking pins to be hereinafter described. The otherprojections 'reniain in their normal from thebase 5in alineform outwardly projecting extensions 9, the of which are bent upward and to producearcuate flanges 10 and form semicircular eyes 11. In other words the lugs and extensions are each provided with a hook portion at their outer end. Coacting with the rails and the chairplate are two side plates 12 each comprising an upright portion 13 adapted to, rest against the outer face of the rail webs and lying between the flanges and heads of said rails is an angular portion 14; adapted to overlie the flanges of the rails and having integral bowed projections 15. These projections are spaced apart" and when the rail joint inwardly is in use, said projections are situated in staggered relation to the lugs 6, so that the projections 15 pass between adjacent lugs 6 with the outer ends of the projections 15 in engagement with the arcuate flanges 10 or hooks of the extensions 9.

The bowed projections 15 are of unique construction, consisting of a rear element or portion 16 in the form of a compound curve projecting upwardly from the side edge of the portion 14 of the side plate and a front elementor portion 17 also in the form of a compound curve projecting downwardly and outwardly, the meeting points of each of these elements forming an arch or crown .18 which partially overlaps the of the lugs 6, so that the locking pin 19 having a tapered end 20 when drawn into the eyes 8 will engage the arch or crown portion 18 of the projections 15, forcing the free ends of said projections into snug engagement with the hook portions 10 of the extensions 9 and also causing the portion 14: of the side plates to firmly engage the flanges of the rails. The

parts of the side plates interlocking with wise movement of the side p ates as well as accidental sidewise displacement thereof.

The locking pins when in position firmly and securely lock the parts together, but because of the bowed or arched construction ofv the projections 15 a certain amount of play is permitted the rails when sufficient Weight is applied to said rails, such as happens when a train is passing thereover.

It has been found in actual practice that where the meeting ends of two rails are rigidly secured to the ties, derailments are often-caused and shock is easily transmitted to the bodies of the cars, but by the use of my improved rail oint, these disadvantages are entirely overcome.

Ofcourse I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is-

1. A rail joint comprising a chair plate having alternate outwardly projecting extensions and upwardly projecting lugs, said extensions and lugs being provided with hook portions, side plates having spaced bowed projections adapted to pass between the lugsand engage the'hook portions ofthc extensions, the crown or arch portion of the projections overlapping the hook portions of the lugs and locking pins engaging the hook portions of the lugs and the outer surface 0 the crown portions of the projections.

2. The combination in a rail joint of a chair plate having alternate integral exten- Copies of this patent may be obtained for sions and upwardly projecting lugs, hooks formed at the outer ends of said extensions and lugs, side plates provided with means for interlocking with said extensions and lugs and means for locking said side plates on the chair plate.

3. In combination with the meeting ends of two rails, a chair plate adapted to underlie the rails comprising a base member slotted transversely from two opposite side edges to form projections, alternate projections being bent upward to produce upwardly projecting lugs, outwardly and downwardly projecting arcuate flanges formed on said lugs, the others of said proj ections remaining in their normal positions to form outwardly projecting extensions, upwardly and inwardly projecting arcuate flanges formed on said extensions, a pair of side plates adapted to engage the webs and flanges of the rails, each comprising an upright portion an angle portion and spaced bowed projections extending from the side edge of the angle portion, said bowed projections each consisting of a rear element in the form of a compound curve, and a front element in the form of a compound curve, the two elements producing a crown or arch, said projections being situated between adjacent pairs of lugs with the free ends in engagement with the arcuate flanges of the extensions and with the crowns overlapping the arcuate flanges of the lugs and locking pins each having a tapered end, underlying the arcuate flanges of the lugs and overlying the crowns of the bowed projections for securely locking the parts together.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ALEXANDER KRAGER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

